Median rent is 18% lower in Kansas City ($1,238/mo vs $1,509/mo). Buying is cheaper in Kansas City, where the median home runs $242,900 versus $303,000. Households earn more in Fort Worth ($79,507 vs $69,166 a year). Taken together, Kansas City is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 93.2 against 102.5 — about 9% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Fort Worth, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Kansas City is 9% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 93.2 in Kansas City vs 102.5 in Fort Worth (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
Kansas City, MO
How much would you need to earn in Kansas City, MO to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in Kansas City, MO
$68,204
You could earn $6,796 less (9% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Fort Worth
Texas
Kansas City
Missouri
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Kansas City at $1,238/mo compared to $1,509/mo in Fort Worth (18% gap). Median home values are within 20% of each other: $303,000 in Fort Worth and $242,900 in Kansas City.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Fort Worth
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Kansas City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Kansas City (avg AQI 57.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Kansas City if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 93.2 vs 102.5).
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,507/yr).
Pick Kansas City if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,238/mo median).
Is Fort Worth cheaper than Kansas City?
Kansas City is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 93.2 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 9% lower in Kansas City.
How much is rent in Fort Worth vs Kansas City?
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,238/mo in Kansas City, MO. Kansas City, MO has the lower rent by about 18%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Worth or Kansas City?
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $69,166 in Kansas City, MO. Fort Worth, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Worth or Kansas City?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Kansas City to match my Fort Worth income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Fort Worth, TX is equivalent to roughly $90,939 in Kansas City, MO (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
